Floatable roof for tanks



July 25, 1933. c HAUPT ET 1,919,634

FLOATABLE ROOF FOR TANKS Filed Feb. 10, 1930 M j. O H 6% B W (3W ATTOR N EY Patented July 25, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- CHARLES H. HAUPT, OF ELIZABETH, AND ALLEN J. ELY, ROSELLE, NEW JERSEY,

ASSIGNORS TO STANDARD OIL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE FLOATAELE ROOF FOR TANKS Application filed. February 10; 1930. Serial No. 427,169.

This invention relates to improvements in floatable decks for tanks and will be fully understood from the following description thereof, illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a tank and floatable deck; and

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the deck.

Referring to the drawing, reference numoral 1 designates the body of a tank which is adapted to contain liquid such as volatile hydrocarbons 2. A floating deck or roof is disposed upon the surface of the liquid. The roof comprises a unitary gas-tight body portion 3 inclined conically upwardly toward its center and having the upwardly extending peripherally disposed flange 4:. Flange 4 carries a suitable sealing device 5 which minimizes the escape of vapors from the liquid between the body portion and the tank. An outer flange or apron 7 constituting a baflle depends from the body portion adjacent its periphery. A plurality of flanges 8 and 9 depend from the body portion 3 within the confines of the outer apron 7 intersecting adjacent the center of the body portion and cooperate with each other, the apron and the body portion to form a plurality of downwardly opening non-communicating com-' partments or gas containers. These flanges may be omitted under certain conditions. In

resting upon the surface of the body of liquid the roof may, or many not, form a plurality of air spaces 10 containing compressed air or vapor. The apron, or baflle, 7 extends downwardly to a greater distance than the flanges 8 and 9 for a purpose to be later described. A drain pipe 11 communicates with the upper surface of the body portion 3. Gas lines 12 having pressure and vacuum valves 13, or any hand controlled valve, lead from each gas container. Weight 14 may be placed in any desired manner on the body portion.

While the deck rests upon the surface of the volatile liquid, a portion of the liquid may vaporize and the rising vapors collect in the downwardly opening gas containers. The. vapors in each container are maintained separate from the vapors in the other containers and buoyup the entire area of the deck. As a result, when the center of gravity of the deck is off-centered with respect to the physicalcenter of the deck and one side of the deck is disposed higher in the liquid than the other side, the vapors are prevented by-the partitions from accumulating under the higher portion only of the deck. By depending the flange 7 to a greater extent than partitions 8 and 9, flow of vapors is permitted from one compartment to another under the partitions before escape of vapors can occur under the flange 7. Therefore, loss of vapor is prevented in case one or more 'of the compartments should leak and the deck become inclinedat a sharp angle from its normal position.

The preferred embodiment is a plurality of radially concentric containers formed upon the underside of the deck. Nevertheless, it will be understood that the flanges can be so arranged that a network of containers can be formed across the under surface of the deck. It is contemplated to construct the body portion with a cone shaped under surface, any concave shape, or any shape which will constitute a receptacle for vapor.

The deck may be provided with the additional weight 14 to increase the amount of pressure which it will exert upon the liquid underneath it. This additional pressure may be desired when the liquid is composed of volatile hydrocarbons such as gasoline, so as to reduce the amount of vaporization under the floatable deck. As the vapors underneath the deck increase in volume, the deck is raised. Vapor is released through the valves 13 when desired.

Various changes and alternative arrangements may be made within the scope of the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in the inven tion as broadly'as the prior art permits.

We claim:

, 1. A floatable deck for tanks comprising a body portion, the under surface of which slopes gradually and continuously upward toward its center, a flange depending from the periphery of the body portion, a plurality of flanges" intersecting adjacent the center depending from the body portion and forming, with the peripheral flange, downwardly opening gas containers.

2. A floatable deck for tanks comprising a one-piece as-tight body portion, a flange a body portion, a plurality of inner flanges depending from the body portion and intersecting adjacent its center, an outer flange depending from the periphery of the body portion extending into the tank to a greater depth than the inner flanges and forming w therewith a plurality of downwardly opening gas containers extending over at least the greater part of the area of the deck.

CHARLES H. HAUPT. ALLEN J. ELY. 

